It has long been established that the (involuntary) alienation which occurs when a bankrupt's estate vests in his trustee severs any beneficial joint tenancy, with the effect that the trustee holds the co-owned property as a beneficial tenant in common.1 The timing of such severance is of vital interest to unsecured creditors and the other coowners alike. If a beneficial joint tenant dies before severance is deemed to have taken place, his unsecured creditors are unable to claim against any share of the property, for it is an essential characteristic of joint tenancy that each joint tenant is entitled to the whole interest or estate, but only for his lifetime: upon the death of a joint tenant, his potential “share” accrues to those remaining in accordance with the right of survivorship. If, however, a co-owner dies after his interest has been severed, his share of the property is available for distribution among his creditors. Where a jointly-owned home is the debtor's only substantial asset, the distinction is crucial.